Fermentation of Soursop using Saccharomyces Cerevisiae: A Kinetic Evaluation

A kinetic evaluation of the fermentation of soursop (Substrate) by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast enzyme) wasconducted by determining the effect of various parameters (such as Temperature, substrate, pH, and Yeastconcentration) on the rate of production of CO2. The results showed that the rate of fermentation increased inproportion with Temperature (optimum 32-36oC), Substrate (optimum 50%v/v), More content about the article can be found in the full paper

Trend in case detection rate for all tuberculosis cases notified in Ebonyi, Southeastern Nigeria during 1999-2009

Unlike previous annual WHO tuberculosis reports that reported case  detection rate for only smear- positive tuberculosis cases, the 2010 reportpresented case detection rate for all tuberculosis cases notified in line with the current Stop TB strategy. To help us understand how tuberculosis control programmes performed in terms of detecting tuberculosis, there is need to document the trend in case detection rate for all tuberculosis cases notified in high burden countries. This evidence is currently lacking from Nigeria. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the trend in casedetection rate for all tuberculosis cases notified from Ebonyi state  compared to Nigeria national figures. Reports of tuberculosis cases notifiedbetween 1999 and 2009 were reviewed from the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health tuberculosis quarterly reports. Tuberculosis case detection rateswere computed according to WHO guidelines. 22, 508 patients with all  forms of tuberculosis were notified during the study. Case detection rate for all tuberculosis rose from 27% in 1999 to gradually reach a peak of 40% during 2007 to 2008 before a slight decline in 2009 to 38%. However,the national case detection rate for all tuberculosis cases in Nigeria rose from 7% in 1999 and progressively increased to reach a peak of 19% during 2008 and 2009. Since the introduction of DOTS in Ebonyi, the  programme has achieved 40% case detection rate for all tuberculosis cases -about 20% better than national figures. However, with the current low case detection rates, alternative mechanisms are needed to achieve the current global stop- TB targets in Nigeria

Past as global trade governance prelude: reconfiguring debate about reform of the multilateral trading system

This paper peers backwards into the history of the multilateral trading system and its development over the past half century as a means of considering what may lie beyond the horizon for the future of global trade governance. Its purpose is to underscore the necessity and urgency for root-and-branch reform of the multilateral trading system. It achieves this by comparing and contrasting the global trading system of 50 years ago with its modern-day equivalent and its likely future counterpart half-a-century hence. In so doing, the paper throws into sharp relief not only the inadequacies of global trade governance today but also the damaging consequences of not fundamentally reforming the system in the near future, with a particular emphasis on the past, present and future development of the world’s poorest and most marginalised countries

Glutathione and Adaptive Immune Responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in Healthy and HIV Infected Individuals

Glutathione (GSH), a tripeptide antioxidant, is essential for cellular homeostasis and plays a vital role in diverse cellular functions. Individuals who are infected with Human immuno deficiency virus (HIV) are known to be susceptible to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) infection. We report that by enhancing GSH levels, T-cells are able to inhibit the growth of M. tb inside macrophages. In addition, those GSH-replenished T cell cultures produced increased levels of Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interleukin-12 (IL-12), and Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), cytokines, which are known to be crucial for the control of intracellular pathogens. Our study reveals that T lymphocytes that are derived from HIV infected individuals are deficient in GSH, and that this deficiency correlates with decreased levels of Th1 cytokines and enhanced growth of M. tb inside human macrophages

Regional research priorities in brain and nervous system disorders

The characteristics of neurological, psychiatric, developmental and substance-use disorders in low-and middle-income countries are unique and the burden that they have will be different from country to country. Many of the differences are explained by the wide variation in population demographics and size, poverty, conflict, culture, land area and quality, and genetics. Neurological, psychiatric, developmental and substance-use disorders that result from, or are worsened by, a lack of adequate nutrition and infectious disease still afflict much of sub-Saharan Africa, although disorders related to increasing longevity, such as stroke, are on the rise. In the Middle East and North Africa, major depressive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder are a primary concern because of the conflict-ridden environment. Consanguinity is a serious concern that leads to the high prevalence of recessive disorders in the Middle East and North Africa and possibly other regions. The burden of these disorders in Latin American and Asian countries largely surrounds stroke and vascular disease, dementia and lifestyle factors that are influenced by genetics. Although much knowledge has been gained over the past 10 years, the epidemiology of the conditions in low-and middle-income countries still needs more research. Prevention and treatments could be better informed with more longitudinal studies of risk factors. Challenges and opportunities for ameliorating nervous-system disorders can benefit from both local and regional research collaborations. The lack of resources and infrastructure for health-care and related research, both in terms of personnel and equipment, along with the stigma associated with the physical or behavioural manifestations of some disorders have hampered progress in understanding the disease burden and improving brain health. Individual countries, and regions within countries, have specific needs in terms of research priorities.Fil: Ravindranath, Vijayalakshmi. Indian Institute of Science; IndiaFil: Dang, Hoang Minh. Vietnam National University; VietnamFil: Goya, Rodolfo Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata ; ArgentinaFil: Mansour, Hader. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos. Mansoura University; EgiptoFil: Nimgaonkar, Vishwajit L.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Russell, Vivienne Ann. University of Cape Town; SudáfricaFil: Xin, Yu. Peking University; Chin

Social Determinants of Health and Knowledge about HIV/AIDS Transmission Among Nigerian Adolescents

HIV is a virus that leads to AIDS. Millions of people are living with HIV. Globally, there is an increased incidence of this disease among adolescents. In literature, there is a gap regarding how social determinants of health have jointly or singly contributed to HIV/AIDS transmission. With the application of the AIDS risk reduction model (ARRM) to the secondary analysis of survey data, the purpose of this study was to determine whether any significant relationships existed between adolescents\u27 childhood health care factors, demographic factors, social-level factors, structural-level factors, aspects of disease management factors, and knowledge about HIV transmission/AIDS among Nigerian adolescents. Survey data were used from Measure Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) in Nigeria for 2008. Multiple linear regression revealed that childhood vaccinations were a weak predictor for HIV transmission risk (R2 - 0.020). Gender, age, place of residence, education, religion and culture, some disease management aspects (e.g., accessibility and affordability of care), and wealth index were all significant but weak predictors of knowledge of HIV/AIDS (R2 = 0.016, R2 = 0.019, R2 = 0.003 & R2 0.015). The potential positive social change effect of the study would be HIV transmission reduction through increasing knowledge of HIV/AIDS among adolescents in Nigeria. The results could be used by both governmental and nongovernmental organizations to influence childhood healthcare improvements and advance education to help reduce or eradicate the causes of HIV/ AIDS transmission among adolescents in Nigeria

Utilisation of Information and Communication TECHNOLOGY for Environmental Sustainability: A Global Perspective

There has been a rapid development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) globally, and ICT have been used as a tool to attain environment sustainability all over the world. There are diverse environmental challenges faced by developing countries such as ecosystem deterioration, pollution, resource depletion, loss of biodiversity and climate change and the management of above problems is difficult because they involve multiple actors and its occurrence is over time and space. Environmental Scientists have raised concerns on how these environmental challenges can be tackled bringing into lamplight, how ICT and environmental science research can be used to wedge these challenges in developing countries. The study is exploratory and employed the use of survey questionnaires as an instrument to collect data. Findings revealed that a lot needs to be done for ICT to be effectively used in the environment, factors such as inadequate facilities, problem of acceptance and adaptation of technology, lack of awareness and illiteracy, mismanagement, lack of technical know-how and unstable internet service are challenges that should be looked at to leverage ICT in the environment. The study also noted the fact that ICT has affected the society and its environments in other negative ways such as the production of unwanted by-products called pollution and depletion of natural resources

MALARIA RESISTANCE AND SICKLE CELL TRAIT: A REVIEW

Sickle cell disease or sickle cell anaemia is an autosomal recessive disease caused by haemoglobin S, an oxygen-carrying protein in blood cells. A single point mutation in the nucleobase sequence of chromosome 11 (Eleven) causes the sixth amino acid in the haemoglobin protein, glutamine acid, to be replaced by valine, changing standard haemoglobin beta into haemoglobin S. Translocation of sickle cell erythrocyte MicroRNAs into plasmodium falciparum inhibits parasite translation and contributes to malaria resistance. Elucidation of this mechanism can lead to a better understanding of sickle cell trait protection against plasmodium falciparum infection

Overlooked Influence of Indian Hemp (Cannabis sativa) Cultivation on Soil Physicochemical Fertility of Humid Tropical Agroecosystems: Lowland Soils

One agricultural practice that may be depleting plant nutrients in wetland soils of the humid tropics is cultivation of Indian hemp (Cannabis sativa), also called Marijuana. Though Nigerian Law, adopted from International Conventions on narcotics, prohibits handling of any part of cannabis plant, it is still illicitly cultivated. This practice may be undermining the quality of wetland agroecosystems. To support these concerns with empirical data, the influence of Cannabis cultivation on soil physicochemical fertility of wetland agroecosystems was assessed at a representative location in southwestern Nigeria. The study compared four land-use options; land not used for Cannabis cultivation (NUC), land currently under Cannabis cultivation (CCC), farmlands converted from Cannabis to alternative use (CAU), and Cannabis farmlands abandoned or seized (ABS). Soil data from the pedogenetic horizons under these land-use options were averaged and analysed. There were significant differences in soil bulk density, with low values in NUC (1.36 Mg m–3) < medium values in CCC (1.55 Mg m–3) < high values in both CAU and ABS (1.62-1.66 Mg m–3). The highest value in the ABS (1.66 M  m–3) is slightly above the critical limit (1.60 Mg m–3) for root growth. Soil compaction in Cannabis farmland thus worsened even after discontinuation of cultivation. Soil pH, soil organic C, total N, exchangeable Ca, exchangeable Mg, apparent and effective cation exchange capacity also differed thus NUC ≥ CCC ≥ CAU ≥ ABS, while base saturation showed an inverse trend. Available P was, however, higher in CCC (14.32 mg kg–1) than the rest, with lowest values in ABS (5.83 mg kg–1). Micronutrients (Mn, Zn and Cu), excluding Fe which was unaffected, followed the trend of soil pH. It is concluded that continuous cultivation of Cannabis in humid tropical lowlands compacts the soil and drains soil nutrients except available P whose status is rather elevated. The practice thus poses a threat to food security and ecological well-being.&nbsp